‘No’ case building
CAMPAIGNERS against same-sex marriage say their work has only just begun after being caught largely off guard by the surprise announcement of the postal survey by the Turnbull Government.
Coalition for Marriage spokeswoman Karen Dickson said a launch was in the early planning stages before the postal ballot was announced.
But they would now be gearing up for a strong campaign before ballot papers are posted out about September 12, providing a High Court case on September 4-5 is unsuccessful.
Ms Dickson said she became involved because she cared for what happened with children and families if there was a successful yes vote in the $122 million postal survey.
“I am keen that voters know what they are voting for,” she said. The latest Newspoll says 63 per cent of people are in favour of allowing same-sex couples to marry, with 30 per cent against and 7 per cent undecided.
Liberal senator Eric Abetz, who says he will be “guided” by the outcome of the survey, said it would be the height of arrogance if the Hobart City Coun- cil kept flying the rainbow flag, raised earlier this week, if the “no vote” prevailed.
Catholic Archbishop of Hobart Julian Porteous said the rejection last week of changes to Tasmania’s AntiDiscrimination Act by the Legislative Council would have a chilling effect on free speech.
“This is a chance for us as citizens to talk about what we deeply believe about marriage, about human relationships, and about family,” Archbishop Porteous said.
“It is very important that we are able to express our views in a respectful manner, and to also listen to one another … we may agree to differ, but the important thing is that we do so in a very respectful manner.”
The Archdiocese of Hobart will not distribute the pastoral letter “Don’t Mess with Marriage” which was at the centre of the alleged discrimination case involving Archbishop Porteous in 2015.
Enrolments for voting closed on Thursday night with both sides of the debate from politicians to celebrities making a last ditch plea for people to get involved.
Federal Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne hit out at “no” campaigners who said the survey was about freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
He said the only question was whether two members of the same sex could marry and any questions about protections for religious freedom would be dealt with by legislation if a majority of Australians voted in support of marriage equality.